Golf commentator and senior player Peter Jacobsen told Sports Headliners that Fred Couples is his favorite to win this weekend’s 3M Championship but also said home state hero Tom Lehman is likely to be among the leaders, too, going into Sunday’s final round.

Jacobsen, who will play in the 3M Championship this weekend at TPC Twin Cities, mentioned Couples, Lehman and Bernhard Langer when asked about players most likely to win the tournament that is part of the Champions Tour for seniors. “Fred Couples is still talented enough to play on the PGA Tour,” Jacobsen said.  “I think anytime Fred enters a tournament on the Champions Tour he’s THE favorite.

“Langer is back but he’s coming off an injury.  He played the senior British and the (U.S.) Senior Open.  I saw him yesterday (Tuesday) and he said he’s feeling pretty good.  He’s starting to get back into shape, golf shape.

“The other player who could win anytime he tees it up is Tom Lehman, another player who still competes on the PGA Tour.  Hits (the ball) a long ways, makes a lot of birdies.”

Jacobsen said Lehman is one of the top three long drivers on the Champions Tour.  Not only does the Alexandria, Minnesota native drive for distance but also accuracy.

“The other thing that makes Tom so formidable is the fact that he makes so many birdies,” Jacobsen said.  “He’s an excellent iron player and he’s a great putter.  Statistically he’s going to have more chances, probably, than anyone else because he’s so close to the hole so often.  I think those two guys, Couples and Lehman, will more than likely be there on Sunday.

“Now Fred has been dealing with a bad back.  So as I said earlier, the only thing that can derail Fred Couples is injury, or pain from a bad back.”

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Lehman, 52, has been playing on both the PGA and Champions tours.  He will be making his first appearance at the annual 3M tournament.  Jacobsen was asked about the value of playing at home and having a supportive gallery.

“There’s a positive and a negative when that happens,” Jacobsen said.  “The negative is you have all the expectations of people expecting you to win because you’re the favorite, you’re the hometown hero.  You’ve played here your whole life. ..You’ve been on the PGA Tour a long time.  That expectation can weigh on you.

“But on the positive side, that expectation can also prop you up.  There’s an extra amount of energy that you gain.  A little bit of adrenaline comes into your body when you’re playing at home.  I don’t know what it is but when you tee it up at your favorite event, or your favorite course, or a tournament you’ve won, or your hometown, there’s a little bit more zing in your game…and maybe it sharpens your focus a bit.”

Lehman is young enough to perform effectively on the Champions Tour.  So, too, are Couples at 51 and Langer, 53.

Jacobsen said players in their 50’s usually have an advantage over those in their 60s.  “I think when you get to be close to your 50^th birthday, I think things start to slow down for you,” he said.  “I think more than anything, injury takes its toll on players over 50.”

Jacobsen, 57, has had knee and hip replacements.  He’s having back surgery in November but plans to play again in 2012.

As for his own prospects in the 3M tournament, Jacobsen said he doesn’t have a “sense” for how he will play.  No doubt he would be thrilled to be in the company of the leaders on Sunday.

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The Gophers football team, with new coach Jerry Kill and staff, starts practice on Monday and is allowed 105 players to participate.  Kill said today he’s heard from former Gophers coaches including Lou Holtz who told him, “You know what you’re doing.  Do it your way.”

The Big Ten announced today it will expand from an eight game conference schedule for each team to nine games starting in 2017.  The Gophers are one of six league teams who will host five conference games in even years (starting in 2018).

Everett Withers, the Gophers defensive coordinator in 2007 under head coach Tim Brewster, is now interim head coach at North Carolina where his former boss, Butch Davis, was dismissed last week.

Minnesota prep football teams begin conditioning practices on Monday, August 15. Blaine, Cretin-Derham Hall, Eden Prairie and Wayzata are expected to be among the best teams in the state.

Brainerd coach Ron Stolski, the all-time state career coaching leader with 330 wins, is coaching again this year and so, too, is Verndale’s Mike Mahlen who has 327 victories.

Dwight Lundeen, going into his 42^nd season at Becker, is the only football coach the school has had.  He has 293 career wins, all at Becker.

The Vikings have four preseason games, playing at Tennessee August 13 and at Seattle August 20, plus home games August 27 and September 1 against Dallas and Houston.  All four are evening games and will be telecast on KARE 11.

The Vikings have to cut their roster down to 75 players by August 30 and reduce it to a final 53 by September 3.

The Vikings are tied for 10^th with the Dolphins and Texans for most difficult regular season schedule in 2011 based on the records of opponents last year, 132-124.  Carolina has the most difficult 2011 schedule among NFL teams with last year’s opponents having a 142-114 record.

Much publicized Gopher basketball newcomers Andre Hollins and Julian Welch will draw attention for more than their resumes.  Their respective jersey numbers are 1 and 00.

Canterbury Park’s Extreme Race Day is Saturday and the event schedule includes more than camel and ostrich racing.  There will be a 100-yard dash and also a race with horses who have never won on turf.  The camels race starts at 3 p.m. with the ostriches scheduled for 4:40 p.m.  Both are non-wagering races.

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